Cersaie 2009 Events Report
Wednesday 30th September 2009Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press Conference
Press Releases
Cersaie 2009, strong attendance and numerous awards
The second day of the 27th Cersaie ended with the International Press Conference, held in Teatro Arena del Sole in Via Indipendenza in the centre of Bologna. The event was attended by around three hundred journalists from all over the world.The press conference was introduced by Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Franco Manfredini, the Chairman of the Association’s Promotional Activities Commission Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Federchimica and Mapei Giorgio Squinzi, and Pier Paolo Celeste, Director of the Studies and Statistics Department and coordinator of activities for Northern Italy of the Italian Trade Commission ICE, who provided a detailed picture of the state of the Italian ceramic tile industry and the context within which it operates today. The proceedings were coordinated by the Director General of Confindustria Ceramica Armando Cafiero, who in his opening remarks commented on the international success of Cersaie, an event that has been repeated for the last 27 years.
In his address, Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Franco Manfredini underlined the critical factors relating to the international financial and property crisis and focused in particular on the current economic situation in the tile sector, which in 2009 has been very mixed. “In spite of the difficulties and the fact that levels of economic activity were lower than those of 2008, in the second quarter of the year we began to see a trend reversal with respect to the first quarter,” said Manfredini. Exports (-24%, an improvement of 3 percentage points) and the domestic market (-15%, an improvement of 8 percentage points) are both significant indicators. To support these statistical figures, Manfredini argued that, “In spite of the difficult situation, our companies are continuing to invest in new technologies and new products. While investments in 2008 amounted to 304 million euro, the forecasts for 2009 are higher than 250 million euro, a very significant figure both in general and for us at more than 5% of our turnover.” To conclude, the Confindustria Ceramica chairman stressed that ceramic tile is now a material that increasingly lends itself to significant non-residential applications such as business centres, shops and offices, public places and high-traffic areas. The versatility of Italian tiles is a demonstration that the Italian ceramic companies are tackling the current business climate by looking to the future and seeking new space and markets.
Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of the Association’s Promotional Activities Commission, outlined the promotional strategies for the Italian ceramic tile industry. “For us, the Ceramic Tiles of Italy mark is a key strategy,” he explained. “Since the beginning of 2009 we have restricted the scope of the mark solely to ceramic tiles produced (i.e. fired) in Italian factories. It is a mark that we have used on boxes, products and all communication relating exclusively to these products. It is intended as a market service while at the same time underscoring design, manufacturing quality, compliance with workplace standards, use of non-toxic raw materials, and constant attention toward sustainable development on the part of the Italian ceramic industry.”
Vittorio Borelli concluded his address by underscoring the Italian ceramic tile industry’s participation in trade fairs and promotional events, including Coverings and ICFF in the United States, and presenting the three new websites showcasing the best of world ceramic production from different perspectives: the Products Gallery and the Projects Gallery of Italiatiles.com and the environmental sustainability website S-tiles.
Pier Paolo Celeste, Director of the Studies and Statistics Department and coordinator of the Italian Trade Commission ICE’s activities for Northern Italy, affirmed that promoting Made in Italy worldwide is the Commission’s primary goal. Since it was founded in 1926, ICE has been responsible for promoting the best Italian products internationally by organising promotional initiatives abroad in the various product sectors. “These projects not only have commercial objectives but also aim to promote the growth of the local markets in which the Italian companies operate,” he explained. “As for the tile sector, we pursue a strategy based on two essential points: consolidation in the markets that already account for more than 50% of exports and conducting foreign promotional initiatives through specific events devoted to influencers such as architects and designers capable of enhancing the added value of Italian products. ICE’s mission for the future is to continue to support Italian ceramic companies in consolidated markets, without forgetting those are seeing significant production and real estate growth,” concluded Celeste.
Mapei’s Chairman Giorgio Squinzi underlined the importance of sustainable development and his company’s partnership with the Italian ceramic tile industry. “Much of our global growth is a result of our close relationship with the tile world,” he affirmed. “Specialisation, internationalisation and a strong commitment to research and development are the principles that have always been behind our business activities. Latest-generation ultra-thin tiles allow us to offer the market innovative solutions in terms of low consumption of energy and raw materials, demonstrating the attention that the Italian ceramic tile industry is devoting to the issue of sustainability even in the current economic context.”
The press conference was concluded by the presentation ceremony for the 13th Ceramic Tiles of Italy Journalism Award 2009 reserved for the best report on Cersaie 2008 and the Italian ceramic tile industry published in foreign magazines. This year’s winner is the Dutch journalist Hans Fonk, editor of the Dutch magazine Objekt© International, for the article entitled Tiles for Comfortable Living “for having highlighted the enormous technological development of Italian ceramic tiles and underscored the role of Cersaie as the key event for presenting these new products”. Two honourable mentions were also awarded to Blagoslava Bancheva, editor of Domyt Magazine (Bulgaria), for the article “Cersaie 2008” and to Lara Mansour, editor of Edge kitchens & bathrooms (United Arab Emirates), for the articles “Thom Mayne designs poster for Cersaie 2008” and “The leadership of the Italian Ceramic Tile Industry”.
The Confindustria Ceramica Distributor Award 2009, presented to ceramic tile distributors who have excelled in their relations with Italian tile producers, was presented to four importers/dealers in Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. They are Ciciriello srl from Brindisi for Italy, Wendel Distribution based in Marmande for France, Koebig J.N. GmbH from Mainz for Germany and Veronove based in Ninove in Belgium for Benelux.
The awards were presented during the Cersaie Evening held in the Chiostri Monastici di S.Stefano in the historic centre of Bologna, along with six Cersaie Awards 2009 for the best stands set up in the exhibition. The winners for ceramic tiles were: Antiche Fornaci d’Agostino, Leonardo 1502 and Florim Ceramica. For bathroom furnishings: Simas , Zucchetti and Roca Italia.
In his address, Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Franco Manfredini underlined the critical factors relating to the international financial and property crisis and focused in particular on the current economic situation in the tile sector, which in 2009 has been very mixed. “In spite of the difficulties and the fact that levels of economic activity were lower than those of 2008, in the second quarter of the year we began to see a trend reversal with respect to the first quarter,” said Manfredini. Exports (-24%, an improvement of 3 percentage points) and the domestic market (-15%, an improvement of 8 percentage points) are both significant indicators. To support these statistical figures, Manfredini argued that, “In spite of the difficult situation, our companies are continuing to invest in new technologies and new products. While investments in 2008 amounted to 304 million euro, the forecasts for 2009 are higher than 250 million euro, a very significant figure both in general and for us at more than 5% of our turnover.” To conclude, the Confindustria Ceramica chairman stressed that ceramic tile is now a material that increasingly lends itself to significant non-residential applications such as business centres, shops and offices, public places and high-traffic areas. The versatility of Italian tiles is a demonstration that the Italian ceramic companies are tackling the current business climate by looking to the future and seeking new space and markets.
Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of the Association’s Promotional Activities Commission, outlined the promotional strategies for the Italian ceramic tile industry. “For us, the Ceramic Tiles of Italy mark is a key strategy,” he explained. “Since the beginning of 2009 we have restricted the scope of the mark solely to ceramic tiles produced (i.e. fired) in Italian factories. It is a mark that we have used on boxes, products and all communication relating exclusively to these products. It is intended as a market service while at the same time underscoring design, manufacturing quality, compliance with workplace standards, use of non-toxic raw materials, and constant attention toward sustainable development on the part of the Italian ceramic industry.”
Vittorio Borelli concluded his address by underscoring the Italian ceramic tile industry’s participation in trade fairs and promotional events, including Coverings and ICFF in the United States, and presenting the three new websites showcasing the best of world ceramic production from different perspectives: the Products Gallery and the Projects Gallery of Italiatiles.com and the environmental sustainability website S-tiles.
Pier Paolo Celeste, Director of the Studies and Statistics Department and coordinator of the Italian Trade Commission ICE’s activities for Northern Italy, affirmed that promoting Made in Italy worldwide is the Commission’s primary goal. Since it was founded in 1926, ICE has been responsible for promoting the best Italian products internationally by organising promotional initiatives abroad in the various product sectors. “These projects not only have commercial objectives but also aim to promote the growth of the local markets in which the Italian companies operate,” he explained. “As for the tile sector, we pursue a strategy based on two essential points: consolidation in the markets that already account for more than 50% of exports and conducting foreign promotional initiatives through specific events devoted to influencers such as architects and designers capable of enhancing the added value of Italian products. ICE’s mission for the future is to continue to support Italian ceramic companies in consolidated markets, without forgetting those are seeing significant production and real estate growth,” concluded Celeste.
Mapei’s Chairman Giorgio Squinzi underlined the importance of sustainable development and his company’s partnership with the Italian ceramic tile industry. “Much of our global growth is a result of our close relationship with the tile world,” he affirmed. “Specialisation, internationalisation and a strong commitment to research and development are the principles that have always been behind our business activities. Latest-generation ultra-thin tiles allow us to offer the market innovative solutions in terms of low consumption of energy and raw materials, demonstrating the attention that the Italian ceramic tile industry is devoting to the issue of sustainability even in the current economic context.”
The press conference was concluded by the presentation ceremony for the 13th Ceramic Tiles of Italy Journalism Award 2009 reserved for the best report on Cersaie 2008 and the Italian ceramic tile industry published in foreign magazines. This year’s winner is the Dutch journalist Hans Fonk, editor of the Dutch magazine Objekt© International, for the article entitled Tiles for Comfortable Living “for having highlighted the enormous technological development of Italian ceramic tiles and underscored the role of Cersaie as the key event for presenting these new products”. Two honourable mentions were also awarded to Blagoslava Bancheva, editor of Domyt Magazine (Bulgaria), for the article “Cersaie 2008” and to Lara Mansour, editor of Edge kitchens & bathrooms (United Arab Emirates), for the articles “Thom Mayne designs poster for Cersaie 2008” and “The leadership of the Italian Ceramic Tile Industry”.
The Confindustria Ceramica Distributor Award 2009, presented to ceramic tile distributors who have excelled in their relations with Italian tile producers, was presented to four importers/dealers in Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. They are Ciciriello srl from Brindisi for Italy, Wendel Distribution based in Marmande for France, Koebig J.N. GmbH from Mainz for Germany and Veronove based in Ninove in Belgium for Benelux.
The awards were presented during the Cersaie Evening held in the Chiostri Monastici di S.Stefano in the historic centre of Bologna, along with six Cersaie Awards 2009 for the best stands set up in the exhibition. The winners for ceramic tiles were: Antiche Fornaci d’Agostino, Leonardo 1502 and Florim Ceramica. For bathroom furnishings: Simas , Zucchetti and Roca Italia.
